Pregnancy planning in Sweden - a pilot study among 270 women attending antenatal clinics

Objective. Health status and lifestyle before and at the time of conception could affect the health of both mother and child, but there is a lack of knowledge about the degree to which pregnancies are planned. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether and how women plan their pregnancies. Material and methods. The main outcome measures were use of timetables, ovulation tests and lifestyle changes. Women (n = 322) visiting four antenatal clinics were asked to fill out a questionnaire (participation rate = 83.9%, n = 270). Results. Three of four pregnancies (n = 202) were very or rather well planned, whereas 4.4% (n = 12) were totally unplanned. During the planning period, 37.1% (n = 100) made up a timetable for getting pregnant, 23% (n = 62) used ovulation tests, 20.7% (n = 56) took folic acid and 10.4% (n = 28) changed alcohol consumption. Conclusion. Although a majority of these women had planned pregnancies, only one in five had taken folic acid during the planning period.